The camp of Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa has not yet received an official copy of the alleged warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to his legal counsel Israelito Torreon.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed on Sunday that the said warrant has been released, warning that Dela Rosa must be careful and not allow himself to be ‘kidnapped’ by law enforcement authorities.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier confirmed the existence of an ICC arrest warrant against the former top cop turned senator over his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings during the previous administration’s war on drugs.
“I hope you can give me a copy because I am the lawyer, and I need something to present to the Supreme Court to show that it actually exists. What you’re saying is only on your cellphone, and you’re unwilling to show it,” Torreon said, directing the request to Remulla.
Torreon reminded that any surrender would need to comply with both the Rome Statute and Philippine law, and currently, the country lacks procedures to implement ICC-related surrender, leaving legal uncertainties unresolved.
Immediate rendition without following domestic processes could violate Philippine law, Dela Rosa’s lawyer warned.
Nicholas Kaufman, the chief defense counsel of former President Rodrigo Duterte, also said he has no information on this matter. He also echoed Torreon’s position on this issue.
“As I have already mentioned, it would defy prosecutorial logic for additional ICC warrants to be sought in the context of the Philippines’ investigation before jurisdictional issues are resolved on appeal in the Duterte case,” Kaufman said.
“I do not believe that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla—the unique source of this dubious intelligence—would be so remiss as to dice with the prosecution at the ICC for contempt, by leaking the existence of a highly confidential arrest warrant for a suspect. Peddling fake news, however, carries no such risk,” the British lawyer added.
While extradition rules exist, no equivalent framework governs ICC cooperation under national law. Foreign-issued warrants should also be validated by Philippine courts before enforcement, according to Torreon.
“Senator Bato seems to have become a whipping boy just to divert attention from our investigation into the flood control scam. A case could still be filed against him here, we will face it if you file a case against him,” Torreon said.
Dela Rosa had no public engagements recently amid reports of the alleged ICC warrant for his arrest. His lawyer admitted speaking with the senator’s wife while visiting Davao, focusing on legal matters rather than his location.
Questions about the senator’s movements remain unanswered, as Torreon avoids speculation to prevent misinformation. He lamented that other legislators, some senators and congressmen, go months of absence without similar scrutiny.
“I think this is partly a matter of self-preservation for Senator Bato. I haven’t spoken with him directly, but when it comes to security and personal safety, you know, your security team could immediately hand you over and send you to the ICC, and you wouldn’t be able to challenge the validity of your arrest there,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.
“That situation isn’t acceptable, and personal safety is at stake. Of course, he has to act cautiously,” Torreon added.
